My apologies that this is a week late, I opened it last weekend to check it over before posting and found I'd put square brackets midway through that just said [sex scene here]. So thanks past me, I appreciate it. (please be impressed at the masterful way I then avoided writing a sex scene)
The first half of this chapter reads a bit differently to everything else because it was taken from the crappy first draft I abandoned that was intended to be a lot shorter than this. This fic will probably end up about 35k words (mostly written already).
The design of the camps had been of Jasper's own invention, based on a distant human memory of medieval castles in history books. The Motte and Bailey, one of his favourites. The important buildings are on a mound, with the less important at the bottom, and a moat surrounding it all. The dirt gotten from digging out the moat went to the mound, it was brilliantly efficient. However, a moat was pointless for their purposes, so instead the first thing he directed the newborns to do when they reached new campground was to dig out a large central pit, about 20 feet across and 10 feet deep so humans can't try to escape but shouldn't die when they fall into it. This was the feeding pit, it contained the mess. The dirt created from that pit formed the mound, which Maria's tent was built on. Everything else surrounded the pit.
He set the newborns to digging as soon as they got there, a vague rectangle he marked out with his heel. Belle wandered around, newborns carrying precious tents darted around her, her eyes wide as she drank it all in. It all looked filthy compared to her. She almost glowed amongst the gloom, her shirt too white and hair too clean. One of the newborns slipped in the fresh mud and landed flat on his back. Jasper was about to bark an order at him to be more careful, to not wreck important equipment. Her flash of amusement stopped him. She found it funny.
He couldn't help but stare at her, this strange girl with strange feelings that stuck out like a sore thumb. She caught his eye and the amusement faded away, turned to worry and fear. He wasn't sure if it made him feel better or worse.
"Major?" Peter drew his attention. "Where do you want the mound to go?"
Jasper gladly took the opportunity to think about something else. She darted up a nearby oak as soon as his eyes were off her. He surveyed the landscape and directed the troops to an appropriate area, suppressing a smile when Peter joked about his choice. He felt warmth on the back of his neck, turned and caught a glimpse of gold disappearing between the trees.
As days passed he couldn't help but feel nervous about the girl. Maria quickly realised that he wasn't feeling himself and took him to the river nearby, leaving Anton in charge. This part of the river was close enough to the camp that they could hear if anyone shouted or screamed, still Jasper would have refused to go had Maria not been with him. He couldn't trust that strange girl alone with Maria, he just couldn't.
He took comfort in being alone with her, as he stripped off his tattered clothes and jumped in the quick moving water. He scrubbed the dried mud off his skin, revealing a few new scars he hadn't noticed yet. It felt good to be a little bit cleaner again, although the dirty water left a residue on him. He couldn't remember what it felt like to be truly clean, the only clear human memories he'd really kept were of his time in human wars — where baths were as rare as they were here.
When he came out, Maria presented him with new clothes she'd taken off one of her victims. She had even been careful when killing him to not get too much blood on the collar of the shirt, she was truly so thoughtful. Before he put them on, she let him take her on the riverbank. Everything felt so right, he was clean, his clothes were intact, and his needs were satisfied.
He returned to the camp feeling much more himself, Maria swaying at his side glowing with satisfaction. She left his arm to glide back to her tent and he gave himself a second to watch her go. There was a rustling behind him, and he sighed and turned towards the culprit.
It was the girl, glowing that strange gold colour again. He took a deep breath and dissected it fully. It felt incredible, warm. His belly tingled, chest tightened, his head felt light. His shoulders felt heavier, like something had been draped over them, comforting like a blanket. All encompassed in a golden light.
He didn't like it, but it didn't look like the girl was doing it on purpose.
The longer he looked at her, the dimmer the gold got until he could see a hint of fear peaking through. He couldn't help but feel bad, despite himself. He decided to drop the girl a line, call her by her real name.
He nodded at her. "Evenin' Bella."
Bright white shone out from within her, gold flared out. She smiled, a real smile not that fake one she used when she was talking to Maria.
"Evening, Jasper."
What?
He felt his expression drop. Eyes went flat, growl started rumbling in his chest. Bella's gold quickly drained away and was replaced with worry. He bit back a snarl as she backed away into the tree.
How did she know that name? It had been decades since Jasper had even heard it. Only Maria knew it. When she had first turned him he told her, but she had been much more interested in his title than his name. The only way Bella could know it was from Maria, but why? Why would Maria tell her? Why would Bella feel able to use it when no one else did? It didn't make any sense.
He couldn't even bring himself to go to the river after that. He didn't feel comfortable unless Bella was directly in earshot or his eyeline. For two weeks he just ordered others to go in his place on outings, choosing instead to guard the camp and stay by Maria's side.
Maria knew something was wrong, she always did. But this wasn't the kind of thing Maria cared much for. She didn't care for small details. If Jasper had told her that Bella somehow knew his name she would shrug and say 'so what?'. If Bella wasn't actively threatening anything, she would care little for it.
Jasper didn't like this side of himself, the side that would cease action due to pointless fear. He also hated it being pointed out. He instead suffered in silence, hoping that no one would notice.
January 17th.
Maria might not have noticed what was bothering him, but she certainly noticed him slacking. She ordered him to go round up some humans to feed the camp. He tried to argue for Peter or Anton to go in his place but she declined. He was going.
"What about Belle?" he asked. "Can I bring her with me?"
Maria shook her head. "Absolutely not, that girl is too precious. I'm not risking her escaping. No, we've been having measly little meals that take far too long to get here and it's because you're not going. You and your little friend are going out and rounding up some humans to feed everyone properly. Belle will stay here."
'But what if she tries to hurt you?' lingered on his lips, but Maria would not appreciate such weakness. He tucked his tail between his legs and left to plan the raid with Peter.
Bella was sitting in a lower branch than usual, he couldn't drag his whole attention away from her. He could see her face for once, usually hidden up in the trees. She had been spending more time in the higher branches the past few days. She was hungry, he could tell that much. She hadn't been partaking when humans were brought to the camp. He had seen her run in the opposite direction, as high up in a tree as she could go until the blood was gone and the heavenly scent dissipated. He could feel her bloodlust from across the camp, it rang at a different tenor than the relentless newborns. She wasn't abstaining from human blood for fun, it actively hurt her.
More lies, more strangeness.
Peter had to shake him to drag his attention off the strange girl. He didn't like leaving her here alone with Maria, he really didn't.
"Maria's a tough cookie, Major." Peter eventually whispered. "She's got centuries of experience holdin' her own. She'll be fine. Have some faith."
Yes, faith. He would have faith.
They agreed to a plan and he rushed back up to Maria's tent to let her know that they were going. He tried to put her on her guard, in vain. She rolled her eyes and told him off for worrying too much, then sent him on his way. He walked past Bella's tree on his way to the front of the camp. She was sitting on a low branch, innocent little face like butter wouldn't melt.
Suspicious.
She glowed again when she saw him. There was a halo of white hope forming all around her, flashes of excitement, a stream of bloodlust trickling through. The gold was there, he looked into her eyes and it flared up, but not as strongly as before. He felt cold in its absence, but couldn't imagine why.
He was still staring at her, and she felt more and more uneasy by the second. The gold slowly morphed into fear, the excitement gave way to tentative disappointment, the bloodlust grew outwards. She must have been scared he would make her come too. He must have been feeling her fear of her own bloodlust. Jasper couldn't understand it, this strange girl with these strange feelings. He wanted to question her. To grab her and shake her and make her tell him everything. He wanted to destroy her so she couldn't confuse him anymore.
"Major!"
But he had orders to follow.
He turned away from her, vaguely recognised relief blossoming behind him, and marched to the front of the camp where Peter, Anton and four of the newborns were waiting.
"I'm coming too," said Anton.
"Why?"
"Because I do what our lady says without question. Unlike you."
Jasper sighed, didn't respond to the slight and ordered the company to move out.
The camp was out of sight within seconds, sound within a minute, smell within two; but the pull that linked Jasper to it didn't fade for several minutes, until they were a few miles away. Sharp cold clarity flooded Jasper's psyche and thoughts of Maria faded away. All he could think of was that girl; sitting on the edge of his camp, watching everything he had move around her. She was unknowable, a threat. He had to protect what was his. He had to go back. He had to destroy her-
"Major!" Peter hissed and clamped a hand around his upper arm. They slowed slightly, but kept their running pace with the others. "What's wrong, man?"
Peter's tone was too low for the rest of their party to follow. Jasper sighed and gave in.
"That girl…"
Peter frowned, his lip crept inbetween his teeth and his hand tightened on Jasper's bicep. "Want me to go back? See what she's doing when she thinks you're not there?"
'What if she tries to hurt you?' came to mind again. Peter raised an eyebrow at him as if he'd known he thought it. Jasper growled, Peter could kill Bella with one arm behind his back and he knew it.
"Yes," he grumbled. "That's a good idea."
Peter smiled reassuringly, clapped his arm, copped a mock salute and fell behind the rest of the party, turning and running the other way. Jasper watched him go, hoping he wasn't risking too much by sending him back there. He turned back once his brother was out of view, only to meet Anton's mocking eyes. Jasper shut his, counting the seconds until he could come back and protect what was his.
The hunting party came across the main road soon enough. The plan was to cross and head to the main city of Austin, but Jasper heard a carriage coming down the road and had a better idea.
The downside of capturing humans and bringing them back to camp was exactly that, bringing them back to camp. They would scream like banshees, kicking and struggling until they were so mangled that only half their blood made it to be consumed. What if they could transport them a better way? In a prison of their own making, perhaps?
A dim part of Jasper remembered the books of his childhood as he stepped into the path of the oncoming carriage. Stories of highwaymen and thieves, of Dick Turpin and Robin Hood. The carriage came clattering to a stop before him, two drivers sitting on top pulled desperately on the reins to halt the whining two horses.
"What are you doing in the road, you idiot?" The second driver shouted.
Jasper paused to listen, there were five humans in the carriage. Seven in all. The newborns hiding in the bushes by the side of the road were growing antsy with the sound of beating hearts so near them. He would have to act quickly.
He jumped up to the top of the carriage in one smooth movement, landing directly on the dashboard in front of the drivers. They jumped. One moved to protect himself and the other produced a pistol. He aimed it at Jasper and shot, but the bullet ricocheted off him and hit a tree on the other side of the road. Jasper took the gun off the quivering man and effortlessly bent it in half.
"Get in the carriage," he growled.
The men scrambled to climb down and get away from Jasper's snarling form, only to come face to face with Anton's bloodthirsty grin. Anton opened the carriage door, stopped the travellers escaping with one well placed growl and ushered the drivers to hustle in. He slammed the door closed.
"Have any bright ideas on how to get this thing back to the camp, Major?"
Jasper frowned, the wheels weren't made for mud and uneven terrain, but if all else failed they could just carry the thing.
"Cut the horses free," he ordered, "we'll do better pullin' it ourselves."
"Keep a'hold of 'em though!" Anton called.
"Why?" Jasper frowned.
"We'll bring 'em as a snack for our new little lieutenant."
Jasper froze. Lieutenant was a title just generally used in the camp for those of them considered above the newborns, the ones who had survived the first three years and been allowed to keep their heads for their good work. It carried responsibility and trust.
"Since when is Belle a lieutenant?" He asked.
"You didn't hear? Maria declared it yesterday while you were on patrol," said Anton, "so the newborns don't pick on her. She heard grumbles about her hiding in that tree all day."
"I'm surprised Maria doesn't mind her hiding all day."
Anton shrugged. "It's fine so long as she's useful in battle, I s'pose. Have you seen her? I doubt she'd be good commandin' troops anyway."
Jasper nodded, although he wasn't sure he agreed. He wasn't sure he knew anything about the girl.
The horses were cut off the carriage and held by a nervous newborn. Two were tasked with pulling the carriage and the other was stationed on the side to ensure the door was kept closed and inhabitants trapped inside. Jasper and Anton lead the procession, running about as fast as the horses could gallop.
About halfway the horses bolted, the newborn trying to hold them accidentally snapped the reins and the animals disappeared into the forest. Jasper didn't punish him, the filthy beasts stank. One of the wheels fell off a short time after, and the supposed horse wrangler was ordered to hold the carriage up in its stead. The look on his face was almost as satisfying as the meal awaiting them.
Jasper finally ordered them to a halt when they reached the edge of the camp. No use wrecking everything they had set up by driving a carriage through it. Peter ducked out from the dense tree cover surrounding the camp, Bella hesitantly by his side. Jasper refused to let his eyes linger on her and focused on Peter instead. He couldn't help but be quite proud, using the carriage had got them back hours earlier than they would have been otherwise.
He smirked and gestured behind him. "We hit the jackpot."
"Damn!" Peter grinned as he inspected the carriage. "Food that travels in style!"
"We found them on the road like a prepackaged dinner," Jasper smirked. He desperately avoided looking at Bella, despite sampling her emotions from the corner of his vision. She was hesitant, and upset, but also more at ease than he had seen her before. He sensed a burst of amusement and had to turn to look at her. She was staring at the newborn supporting the carriage in place of a wheel and holding back a smile.
Anton laid eyes on her and flushed with lust. "We tried to bring you back a snack," he leered. "But the horses ran off pretty sharpish."
Bella gave off a wave of disgust. "It's the thought that counts."
"It was my idea to keep the carriage you know," he puffed his chest out, all proud of himself for something he didn't do.
Jasper bit back a snarl. How could Anton claim to have true affection for Maria when his head was turned by the first pretty girl he saw?
He slapped him on the back of said head. "Just get the humans into camp, the carriage won't go any further. I'll get Maria."
"You'd better not steal credit!" Anton shouted as Jasper made his way through the trees. He turned back to glare at the weaselly little suckup. There was no worse kind of man than one without honour.
Jasper dashed up to Maria's tent as soon as it was in sight, excited to see her again. She smiled at him and kissed his cheek as he told her how they'd brought the humans back.
"Well done, Major." She crooned and made her way out the tent. "I'll be sure to give you a treat for your hard work."
Jasper smiled and followed her to the feeding pit, where the humans were being led. Peter and Bella trailed behind the procession and Jasper couldn't help but watch them. While they were aware of their surroundings, Peter's attention was very much on her. He was glowing with concern, she was flooded with shame and bloodlust. There was a twist in Peter's colours that Jasper rarely ever saw, in fact they only ever seemed to be centred on him. Care. Affection.
They were friends.
Jasper couldn't keep his eyes off them, even as the feeding started and some nameless half drained human was thrust into his arms to finish. Peter's attention was all on her. She had drawn his brother in, put him under her spell.
What had he done?
